How do you start a college admissions consulting business in 2027?

College admissions consulting in 2027 is in flux: AI essay tools (ChatGPT, Grammarly Pro, college-essay-specific bots) commodify the editing layer, but strategy — school-list calibration, activity narrative, ED/EA chess, niche scholarships — still commands $200-$600/hr from anxious parents. Test-optional rollback at MIT, Yale, Harvard restored some old playbook value. Honest 5/10.

Startup costs. CRM (HubSpot Free → $50/mo), scheduling, e-sign $50-$150/mo. IECA or HECA membership $300-$1.2k/yr (signals trust). Naviance/Scoir/MaiaLearning data subs $0-$500. LLC + E&O insurance $800-$1.5k. Website $500-$3k.

Credentials. No license required. What parents look for: IECA Professional Member status (requires masters or 3+ yrs experience), former admissions officer at a target school, or proven track record (anonymized acceptance lists). HECA is easier to join. Avoid claims of "guaranteed" admission — IECA bans it.

Customer acquisition. Referrals dominate (60-80% by year 3). Sources: high school college counselors (gift them lunch + one-pagers), independent school parents, private SAT tutors (cross-refer), LinkedIn for international (China, India, Korea), IG for mid-market US families. Webinars on "Junior Year Roadmap" convert at 5-12%.

Revenue model. Hourly $150-$600. Comprehensive packages (junior + senior year) $4k-$25k. International packages $15k-$60k.

Year-1. 8-15 students at $4k-$8k each = $40k-$120k gross. Slow to ramp; year 2-3 is when reputation compounds.